Capitol Reef National Park
Last Updated: 3/29/2024
“One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure.”
Capitol Reef National Park is definitely small, but mighty! And a trip to Capitol Reef is definitely worth your time. This national park got its name from the white domes of Navajo Sandstone that resemble the dome of the Capitol building. It is a hidden gem dotted with red rock cliffs, canyons, and arches.
Our adventure to Capitol Reef National Park, in Utah, was part fun and part work! We had the privilege of going to Utah for the filming for Mariposa Pictures’ new short film, The Traveler.
There are around 15 day hikes located along Highway 24. Also you can take the Scenic Drive beyond the Fruita Campground. The cost for the scenic drive is $20 per vehicle (the rest of the park, along Highway 24, is free). We were only able to fit in a few hikes, since most of our time was spent filming.
The Chimney Rock Trail takes you to the top of a low mesa 300 feet up. Then the loop trail takes you around the top. In total, the hike is 3.3 miles.
The Hickman Bridge Trail is an easy 2 mile roundtrip hike that takes you to a large natural bridge.
In addition to hiking, we also took time to cruise on the Scenic Drive. Once we arrived at the end of the pavement, we parked and walked a short way down the Capitol Gorge Road. I will let our pictures tell the story of our trip!
Quick stop to get a picture with the National Park Entrance Sign. Do you make your family stop for a pic at each National Park sign?
The leader of our pack taking it all in on the Capitol Gorge Road.
The whole crew on the Capitol Gorge Road.
A must stop for any National Park visit is the Visitor Center. Photo Credit: Carter Rutledge
Taking a break after hiking the Chimney Rock Trail.
Addy hiding out at Panorama Point.
Group shot of the actors on the last day of filming. The top of Chimney Rock provided a beautiful backdrop.
Hickman Bridge Trail.
Thanks so much for checking out our photo tour from our short trip to Capitol Reef National Park. I hope these photos inspire you to visit this beautiful gem. And while you are in the area, you should also check out Goblin Valley State Park.